Italian Eni and UK’s British Petroleum finished the drilling process for the second well in South Baltim field east of the Nile Delta, 12km away from the Nooros field. The new well is expected to produce 350mcf/d of gas to be linked to the national grid by 2018, reported Daily News Egypt.

A source from the Egyptian oil and gas sector stated that the production of the second well is being tested in order to ensure the available quantity of natural gas as the reserves are estimated according to the preliminary results of the first well and the exact quantities will only be verified by the results of the second well’s examination.

The two firms aim to improve South Baltim field by drilling six developing wells at a depth ranging from 3,900-4,000m below sea level.

Late August, it was reported that the field’s expected production capacity, as the second well was under construction with the preliminary appraisal results showing reserves of recoverable gas in the Baltim concession estimated at around 700bcf.